Ombudsman cancels France trip due to protests

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has cancelled his trip to France due to ongoing protests in the European country, where he was scheduled to meet with authorities regarding Philippine officials allegedly hiding there. 

Remulla said he was set to depart on November 17, but will not push through with it.

“Cinancel na namin kasi nationwide march na,” he said in a briefing on Friday.

“I don’t think you want to be caught in the middle of it. For those who are hiding there, good luck to them,” the Ombudsman said. 

He then named the people allegedly hiding there: Senator Loren Legarda, her son Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, and former congressman and fugitive Zaldy Co.

Legarda and Leviste are facing plunder and graft complaints over the P10-billion contracts involving the lawmaker’s solar empire, which allegedly did not comply with the agreement on the power supply. 

Co, meanwhile, faces several charges before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged involvement in the flood control anomaly.

As of November this year, the Ombudsman has filed 79 flood control cases—with 67 accused—before various courts, involving at least P10.78 billion in government funds. 

Remulla said four more congressmen are under preliminary investigation in connection with the flood control scandal.

Moreover, the anti-graft body filed 57 other cases before the Sandiganbayan in October alone, involving P13.12 billion in government funds.